Under that programme - which was funded by the Danish Red Cross between1997 and 2005 and by the Japanese Red Cross since 2006 - more than 6,500hectares of mangrove have been planted, contributing to protecting theenvironment and biodiversity.
According to ViceChairman of the Nam Dinh Red Cross Pham Minh Phuong, the mangroveplantation has made a significant contribution to protecting the localsea dyke system, preventing and controlling natural disasters andboosting socio-economic development.
The project hasbenefited more than 2,000 households in Giao An commune, Giao Thuydistrict, with more than 1,200 hectares of mangrove planted togetherwith nearly 900 hectares of trees.
Chairman of theGiao An Red Cross, Vu Duc Phuong, highlighted the practical benefitsfrom the project to the targeted coastal residential areas over the past18 years, saying that they have seen a significant change in theirdefences against high sea waves and stormy winds.
The mangrove forests have also contributed to consolidating the localsea dyke system, thus reducing landslides, erosion, flood tides andembankment breaches.
Nam Dinh is one of thelocalities most vulnerable to natural disasters during the flood seasondue to its geographical features. The areas surrounding the Red, Dao,Day and Ninh Co Rivers are particularly prone.
It is one of ten Vietnamese provinces to benefit from the MP/DRRprogramme. It has developed 91km of sea dykes and more than 300km ofriver dykes.-VNA